Gender

Using unique cohort data that follows the same children over time, Young Lives is able to track how gender inequalities open up during adolescence, and what causes inequality to shift and persist in different ways within and between countries. By doing so, we can provide insights into key windows of opportunity for policymakers to invest in children during the second decade of their lives, to mitigate the worst effects of poverty, broaden the options open to them, and support both girls and boys to reach their full potential.

While gender is about both boys and girls, there has been particular policy interest on finding out more about girls because they have traditionally been so disadvantaged. However, Young Lives research looks at the implications of gender roles and gender-based decisions for boys and girls, and young women and men.

Young Lives is analysing our qualitative and quantitative findings into the differences emerging between boys and girls at this time, and much of this work will be published in 2017.